Driving mechanism for ironing machines



Feb. 9 1926.

A. W. ALTORFER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR IRONING MACHINES 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 25,

IN'SZ'ENTDR. I

A. W. ALTORFER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR IRONING MACHINES Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,633

Originai Filed Feb. 25. 1921 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I In 3 ...,,.Iuu:.. F

@"IIL v I N I N Y E N T D F- A'r'r Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,633

A. W. ALTORFER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR IRONING' MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 25, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 1 L W4 lll' pflw v F Patented Feb. 9 1926.

UNITED STATES PA-TENT" OFFICE.

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 ALTORFER BROS. COM- PANY, OF EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

:onrvme MECHANISM FOR momma MACHINES.

Application filed February 25, 1921, Serial No. 447,833. Renewed November 23, 1925.

to provide a driving unit attachable to a' washing machine and to the actuating means for the cylinder or mandrel of an ironing machine, for the purpose of using the same Y source of power and power elements which operates washing machine parts, to also operate the cylinder or mandrel of an ir0ning Ifiachine.

The invention has for a'further object to provide a driving coupling for operating certain ironing machine elements from and thru certain elements of a washing machine; thus making it possible to employ a motor common to both machines, instead of employing two motors, one for each machine. Said coupling including reversing means, whereby the ironing elements may be driven in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. p

A further object of the invention is a driving attachment for ironing machines, having means for coupling it to an operative part of awashing machine to be driven therefrom, and also having means for coupling it to an actuating part of an ironing machine, whereby the ironing machine elements may be actuated from elements on the washing machine, thereby employing only one motor for the two machines. Said attachment being arranged for substitution for the wringer elements of the washing machine; and includes reversing means to insure the transmission of motion to the ironing machine cylinder so that it may be caused to revolve away from the attendant or operator.

That the invention may be more fully un derstood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention in which Fig. 1 is a partial front elevation of an ironing machine showing my driving athas reference to driving.

'-tachment thereto, and also coupled to an operating part of a washing machine, the

latter being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an end view of that end of the ironing machineon which is mounted the actuating means for the ironing cylinder,

and to which is coupled the driving attachment, the latterbeing omitted and as the same would appear on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail face view of the actuating elements forthe ironing cylinder, and an adjusting means to provide for an operative coupling thereof with the driving attachment; Fig. 4 is a cross-section of parts seen in if taken onthe line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. -5 is a cross-section in plan, partly in elevation, as the same would appear, if tale on on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section as the same would appear, if taken on the line 6'-6 of Fig. 5 and v Fig. .7 is a sectional detail showing the coupling member of the driving attachment which is employed 'to'couple the attachment to an operating part of a washing machine.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts thruout the figures.

Ironing machines for domestic use in the home are in common use, so are washing machines. Except in the case of isolated instances on the farm, the best known means for operating both such machines is an electric motor, and where electricity is not available, it is common to use a gasoline engine. Both types of these machines are usually sold with a motor, adding considerably to the expense, and it is this expense I aim to obviate, as well as add an advantageous feature which will tend more and more toward the use of ironing machines because of economy in cost of use. I

, Practically all power operated washing machines have a power operated wringer, and in most cases the wringer is mounted at the head. of an upstanding shaft so as to swing thereabout, whereby the clothes may be passed from the washing machine thru the wringer into a tub containing bluing water or rinse water, and then from the latter into a basket or other receptacle. Also in some cases the wringer mechanism is do;

' Figs. 2 and 3, and as the same would appear tachable' from the washing machine and detachable from its operating part particularly for shipping purposes.

Having all the foregoing in mind and also the. fact that each type machine is sold with its own motor and connected actuating parts, I have devised a driving attachment for connecting an operating part of a washing machine with an ironing machine, all with the idea, that the motor which is sold with the washing machine, may also be used for operating the ironing element of an ironing machine. The custom is to use the washing machine first and then to rinse the clothes with the ringer. lVhen the time is at hand to iron the clothes, the attendant may draw the ironing machine up alongside the Washing machine and having removed the wringer mechanism, may couple up my driving attachment with an operating .part of the washing machine and an operating art of the ironing machine and proceed with the ironing. The driving attachment is designed for coupling both to the washing and ironing machines, as it may be deemed advisable to provide the ironing machine with a drive to the ironing cylinder from a motor direct, or with the idea of substituting some other form of driving means for the ironing cylinder in case it is desirable to use the ironing machine from some remote point' from a washing machine.

No special stress is laid on the particular type of ironing machine, except that it include a suitable frame structure and connecting braces of any suitable character, and that it embody an ironing cylinder or mandrel 2 on a shaft 3 thru and by means of which the cylinder or mandrel is operated. Also, no special stress is laid on the particular type of washing machine, except that it include, preferably, an upstanding operating shaft 4 which is driven from some suitable driving mechanism or gearing, not shown, actuated by an electric motor or gasoline engine, not shown. The said shaft arranged at its upper end to have remov-- ably connected thereto a wringer Inecha nism, not shown. This latter mechanism, as-

well as the actuating means forshaft 4 and the motor are not shown, because they are well known in the art and to the trade handling similar machines. The upper end of the shaft 4 has a clutch member 5 preferably located in the base of a socket 6 arranged to receive a bearing member of the wringer mechanism, not shown, and a bearing member of my driving attachment to be described.

Referring to the ironing machine, the frame 1 at one end of the machine has a key-Wa slot 7, of a well known type into which hts a sleeve 8 of a preferably circular open face casing 9, said sleeve having :1

key 10 so as to removably lock the casing to the frame with the shaft 3 rotating in said sleeve. It will be understood that by rotating the casing 9 so that the key 10 on the sleeve 8-will coincide with the keyway in the slot 7 that the casing and sleeve may be detached. "It is provided, however, that the casing 9 may be oscillated on the shaft 3 within certain prescribed limitations to provide for an adjustable connection between the ironing machine actuating means, and the driving attachment, as will be explained. The shaft 3 protrudes thru the casing 9 and receives a large gear wheel 11 arranged to be keyed to said shaft 3 by a pin 12, and carried within a casing 13 adapted to be detachably attached to the casing 9 in any suitable manner. In mesh with the gear wheel 11 is a small pinion 14 carried on a short shaft 15 journaled in the walls of casings 9 and 13 and its protruding end located within a short sleeve or barrel 16 formed with an annular flange 17 on its outer end, see Fig. 5. The erd of short shaft Withinsaid barrel 16 has connected thereto a coupling clutch member ing a pin 21 onto which is screwed a thumbv nut 22 which may be caused to impinge against the plate 19 to hold it secure, or release it to permit the attendant or operator to reciprocate it to oscillate the easings 9 and 13 to change the position of the shaft 15. The manner of doing this is fully shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The driving attachment is best seen in Figs. 1, 5, and 6, and comprises, preferably, an enclosing casing 23 to house certain re versing gearing, and a depending member 24 adapted to have a telescopic relation with and to be removably seated in the socket 6 on the washing machine. In the member 24 is journaled a short vertical shaft 25, on the lower end of which is secured a clutch member 26 adapted to have a clutch connection with the clutch member 5 on the upper end of the wringer operating shaft 4, and on the upper end of said shaft 25 is connected a bevel gear wheel 27 in mesh with oppositely placed bevel gear wheels 28 and 29 loosely carried on a shaft 30 journaled in the casing 23 and also protruding into a sleeve or barrel 31 connected to said casing, in' any suitable manner. On said shaft 30 between said bevel gear wheels 28 and 29 is feathered a clutch member 32 adapted to be moved to a position neutral to said wheels 28 and 29 or caused to engage either for reversing the rotation of said shaft 30. -A lever 33 is suitably connected to said member 32 for shifting it as desired. The end of the shaft 30 within the barrel 31 has slidably carried thereon, but rotatable therewith a coupling clutch member 34 which is designed to have a coupling connection with the coupling clutch member 18 on the end of the short shaft 15, associated with the ironing machine. A spring 35 on the'shaft 30, one end bearing against member 34 and one end bearing against a member in the casing 23 yieldingly holds the member 34 outwardly and in yielding connection with the member 18.- I prefer to use and I have aimed to show a clutch coupling at 18 and 34 which has universal coupling features'so as to be slightly flexible. The endbf-the barrel 31 is formed or provided with diametrically disposed spaced ears or hearing plates 36, see Figs. 1 and 5.

between which are carried short hand levers 37 fulcrumed at 38 to said ears or plates 36, and each .lever is formed at its outer end with a tooth or dog 39 which is adapted, when the ends of the two barrels 16-and 31 are brought together to overlie and bear against the flange 17 on the end of the barrel 16 to lock the two barrels end against end.

The locking position of the two levers is maintained by springs 40 bearing against the levers and body of the barrel 31 and located between the ears or plates 36. It will be understood that by bearing down on. the inner ends of the levers 37 that the toothed ends may be raised to release the the ironing machine are moved to position alongside each other and after removing the wringer attachment the driving attachment is coupled up to the two machines in.

manner explained. When the ironing is done, it is easy to detach or uncouple the attachment from the two machines, as will be understood.

The object of the reversing gearing in the attachment is to provide for the proper rotation of the ironing cylinder or mandrel 2. Motors of diiferent'makes do not always rotate in the same direction. Some rotate clockwise and some anticlockwise, according as they may be wound, and the lines from the power house from which'the current may be taken in different parts of a city will cause the same make of motor to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise, due to thepolarity of the lines. And as the ironing cylinder or mandrel should always rotate from the attendant or'operator, the reversing gearing makes it possible to do so. However, it also has the advantage of enabling the attendant or operator to reverse the cylinder or mandrel for reironing a piece or to release parts in case of t-angling thereof or when not smoothly ironed.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a gear wheel on said shaft, an enclosing'casing for said gear wheel adjustable concentrically on said shaft, means for adjusting said casing, a short shaft journaled in said casing, a pinion on said short shaft in mesh with said gear wheel, a driving means for said short shaft, and. means for detachably connecting said driving means to said short shaft.

' 2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a gear wheel on said shaft, an enclosing casing for said gear Wheel, adjustable concentrically on said shaft, means for adjusting said casing including a locking'means, a short shaft journaled in said casing, a pinion on said short shaft in mesh with said gear wheel, a housing, means to detachably connect said housing to said machine, driving means insaid housing, means to clutch said driving means to said short shaft.

3. A driving attachment for the purposes described, including a vertically disposed.

shaft, a coupling member thereon, a horizontally disposed shaft, a coupling member slidable thereon,,means bearing yieldingly .thereagainst, gearing connecting said shafts, a clutch in said gearing, means to actuate said clutch, and clamping means on said attachment.

4. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a frame having a key-seated opening, a shaft thru said opening, an ironing cylinder on said shaft, a gear wheel on the end of said shaft, an enclosing casing for said gear wheel, said casing having a sleeve with a key to fit the opening in said frame and adjustable con- 'centrically about said shaft, a short shaft journaled in said casing. a pinion on said short shaft in mesh with said gear wheel, and. an adjustable means for said casing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand this 22d day of February,

ALPHEUS 'VV. ALTORFER. 

